The Storyteller

April had a wonderful life until she got an abusive and demanding boyfriend. now her life is a living hell but she can't seem to bring herself to end it. when she goes for a walk by a train track she sees a boy standing on them, and the train is coming, without thinking she pushes him out of the way and takes her own life. when she wakes up she is in heaven. She is told that because she took her own life to save someone else's, she gets to return to earth to make sure a story that someone wrote goes according to plan. Her story is Harry Potter (lucky her) so now she gets to go be a witch and make sure everything is how it should be, but that is a difficult task, can she make it happen?

4. Life Goes On

Weeks have passed. I was right, Carl did interfere with my schedule. I told him that if he wanted to lose weight he would need to take a look at my training schedule. That was a stupid comment. His retort was a fist in the gut.

"You can work out on your own time."

I didn't dare say anything in my defense. I already rode it close to the edge, and I didn't want a black eye to go to with a bruise.

Luckily I have been writing in my now normal journal. I have been receiving more abuse, maybe because I have been writing in my journal and it helps to relax. Now I'm a lot less cautious. How stupid am I? To stupid to even realize that I'm subjecting myself to both peace and hell.

But life goes on. If there is anything that I have gained from being with Carl, life isn't fair. And adding insult to injury, you cant do anything about it.

Things at home have been very sucky as well. I came home to run into two people I did not want to run into, my parents. My mother was sitting in a chair facing the front door and my father was standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder. My mothers hand was reaching up and on top of my fathers. My mom was sitting on the edge of her chair with her legs leaning to one side. They had dark clothing on to go with their somber faces.

This was too perfect, this had to be planned. No one just walks home to find their parents in that position wearing dark clothing though I think they put on those clothes subconsciously thus proving my theory that this was planned. It seemed that I was in a movie where there is a good child gone bad, I guess I fit that bill.

As soon as I saw them I dropped my backpack and approached them cautiously like I was approaching a tiger.

"What's this all about?" I took a few steps closer, but stopped 10 feet short.

"We've been really worried about you." My mother Sue said and glanced up at my father.

"You have gone from our darling little girl to something of a delinquent. You don't have a driver's license and you keep on stealing your fathers car and not appearing until after school. Remember when we called the police and they found you at school? Well while we have learned that if we wait you will come home, but it worry's us sick. While you do come home, there's nothing we can do. Is there something wrong? You never seem to rest, you always look really tired, and you aren't doing well in school. We called your teachers and said you always seem to look distracted. What's wrong honey?"

"No Sue, everything is fine." I knew I sounded annoyed, but I didn't care. I really wasn't annoyed, I just didn't want to them to interfere with my problem. If Carl found out that this conversation was happening, I would be dead where I stood.

I know for a fact he would hit me, tell me its my fault and to never let it happen again. Then we go through the same 'I love you' episode. He would be right, it would be my fault. I should have just ran, to avoid this very conversation at all costs.

"You are not permitted to call your mother by her first name." My father sounded shocked, and unsure if what he was doing was right.

"I'll call her Sue if I want to, Josh." I am just hoping that this will keep their noses out of my business.

My mother just opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but just had a surprised look and shut her mouth again.

After a bit of a silence my mother asked my a question I hadn't thought they would have asked. "Are you on drugs?"

This question was shocking to me, it would have never occurred to me that my parents would be that distrusting. I didn't know how to respond. I have done drugs before, but that was of Carl's doing, I had no say in that. I didn't get addicted, which was good news. Though I will admit getting into drugs doesn't sound horrible. I heard it just takes the pain away.

Though when I thought about it, it made sense why they would think that. I have a slight discoloration of the skin, (I heard that comes from malnutrition, I am nearly starving myself for Carl's pleasing) red eyes with dark circles under them, (Carl has been wearing me down every morning and the only time I have to write in my journal and work out is at night) and I've been doing poorly in school. I am not on drugs at the moment, and I have only smoked a few joints because Carl made me. I needed t think up something, quick.

"I'm not on drugs."

Josh raised an eyebrow, obviously doubtful.

"If I was on drugs, you would be able to smell it on me."

Now Sue raised an eyebrow. Then it all went silent. Any noises that could be heard suddenly stopped. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife.

I leaned forward a bit, I could feel my eyes go soft and pleading. "I can tell you right now that I am not on drugs. I have just been having some trouble sleeping at night. I don't know how else to make you believe me. If you don't, then I'm sorry, but I can honestly say I am not on drugs. You can search my room if you think I'm lying."

That concluded the discussion. No one said anything after that, so I just went upstairs to my room and locked the door behind me. I climbed into my bed still fully dressed and just fell asleep, completely forgetting about Carl and if he calls.

* * *

Bzzzzz . . . Bzzzzz . . . Of shit, another attack of bees and earthquakes. No, wait it's just my phone. I answered it without checking the caller I.D.

"Hello?" I said, in an extremely tired voice.

"Jesus April, WHY do you sound tired? Is the thrill of my call not exiting enough? Are you not exited by our calls? What the fuck?"

I immediately snapped to attention. " Oh no hon, sorry I didn't know it was you, the caller I.D. on my phone kinda broke." I bit my lip, I hope he bought that.

"I accept your apology, now tell me you love me more than your own life."

"I love you more than my own life. If you were about to shed a tear of sadness, I would hang myself, jump off a cliff, or overdose on medication to stop that tear." I could feel the evil smile through the phone. It was the first time I felt that and it scared me. He really doesn't care about me. I felt sad, I knew he was evil, but under all of the shit I took from him, I thought he would care about me a little more.

"Anyways, come over, I want some more pleasure out of you."

"OK, be right there."

After we hung up I put something on similar to what I wore the first time. I put on a pink, low-hanging tank top and a mini jean skirt. Even thought they are out of style Carl likes them. I went upstairs and grabbed the keys and drove down to Carl's house thankful that my parents didn't hide the keys, or I would have to walk.

Once again I parked out front and walked down the hill on the side of the house and knocked on the window. He let me in with the same boring face and carried me to the bed. He just started kissing me, I had no say, and while he was kissing me he pulled my shirt off. then he pulled his pants down.

* * *

After our sex episodes we always sit in the same positions as last time. But then something hit me, that could save me from this. I rolled around to face him, still trying to put distance between him and me.

"Where are your parents all the time? I never see them, and there is never a car parked out front." I wasn't afraid to ask him because after he has his way with me he always is in a spectacular mood.

"My parents . . . they are both very successful, and never have any time for me. They are always away on some business trip and when they aren't they are out doing whatever. If I need something I just tell them and they hand me a wad of cash. The two main words that register in their minds from me are 'I need'. I could tell them I need money for more cigarettes and they would hand me a 50. I'm glad they ignore me. My life is easier without them."

So no help is going to come from his parents.

"When they are home though, they don't give a shit what I do. You could fire a gun in here and they wouldn't care. In fact, their bedroom is right next to mine and they were home when we had sex for the first time."

I froze up. They were here that first time? That was just all kinds of wrong.

Then he told me I was gonna skip today and just stay at his house and we could pleasure each other. Ho boy, I'm going to be 16 and pregnant.

"But first make me breakfast. I want waffles."

"OK" I got up not bothering to keep the covers over me anymore because it didn't matter anymore and got dressed and walked to the kitchen. The waffle iron was in an obvious spot, it was sitting next to the fridge because Carl always has me make him waffles. As I was mixing the batter he came up and hugged me from behind.

"I called a few friends, they all are really exited and ready for you" I almost threw up. This was gonna be the worst day ever.

"OK but I need to be home before four o'clock or my parents will call the cops, and wont be able to be with you anymore."